W. Thomas Smith Scholarship

Background

Tom Smith '48 of Greenville, South Carolina has created the W. Thomas Smith Scholarship, to be awarded to a graduating senior in recognition of his or her outstanding academic achievement at Davidson, demonstrated leadership, and service to the community.

The Scholarship

The W. Thomas Smith Scholarship is designed to be similar to other prestigious postgraduate awards, such as Rhodes, Marshall, Luce, and Fulbright Scholarships, and will provide for all expenses to cover two consecutive semesters of study at a major university outside the United States.

The Application

The application consists of the following:

essay (1000-1200 words) including your study and career aspirations

statement describing steps the student has taken to be assured of timely participation in the selected university's admission process for the proposed academic year

transcript

three recommendations, at least two from faculty who know you well

interview with the selection committee

Admission to the overseas university for the purposes of graduate study will be the student applicant's responsibility. There is no formal application form, but your application should conform to the above guidelines. The winning scholarship holder will be asked to complete a report during the spring of the scholarship year, focusing on the scholarship study and related experiences, and suitable for publication in the Davidson Journal (or the like). The report should be received by the chair of the Graduate Fellowships Committee by June 1 of the scholarship year.

Who Should Apply

Applicants must be in the top 10 percent of the graduating senior class (at the time of application). The final qualification and the emphasis of the competitive application will be the quality of the written proposal for the year of postgraduate international study.

Campus Procedure

The selection committee for the Smith Scholarship will consist of the Graduate Fellowships Committee and the director of fellowships. The deadline for arrival of the written application and accompanying materials is the last Friday in January, by noon, at the Office of Fellowships. Interviews will be scheduled immediately after that date. The Smith Scholarship may not be deferred. The committee will designate an alternative recipient who will receive the Scholarship if the winner cannot accept the award for any reason.